Apostrophes and Proper Nouns

Take a close look at this sentence about the great playwright Tennessee Williams: It’s Tennessee William’s best play. Note the placement of the apostrophe. It disfigures the name Williams—how could that be right? Here’s a rule to live by: Forget the apostrophe until you write out the entire word. A correct possessive apostrophe can never entangle itself within any word. So by writing Williams out first, you can avoid a lot of trouble.

The trouble that can’t be avoided comes next, because there are conflicting policies for writing possessive proper nouns that end in s. The Associated Press Stylebook recommends just an apostrophe: It’s Tennessee Williams’ best play. But most other authorities endorse ’s: Williams’s.

Williams’s means “belonging to Williams.” It is not the plural form of Williams. People’s names become plural the way most other words do. Only rank amateurs think the plural of cat is cat’s. Names are no different. They seem different because of human vanity: we’re somehow reluctant to compromise the “purity” of Smith so we mistakenly write the Smith’s, adding the apostrophe to establish a respectful distance between the name and the s rather than simply writing the Smiths, the Fongs, the Calderóns.

Now, what if the name ends in s? Figuring out the plural of a name like Williams drives people crazy. Some would write the Williams, but that means the family’s name is William. Others employ that misguided apostrophe: the Williams’ or the Williams’s or even the William’s. That last one is particularly ghastly. Taken literally, the William’s means something ridiculous: “belonging to the William.” Forcing an apostrophe between the m and s mangles and mocks the name.

All names ending in s become plural by adding es. Make it the Williamses. To show possession, add just an apostrophe: Williamses’. The house belonging to the Williams family is the Williamses’ house. Maybe you’re thinking it sounds ridiculous and looks bizarre. But it’s also correct.

Let’s look at some other types of proper nouns …

• Many organizations, companies, and government agencies are known by two or more capital letters (AP, MGM, EEOC). Initialisms ending in S show possession by adding ’s: CBS’s ratings, DHHS’s policies.

• Add only an apostrophe to show possession for a place, business, or organization whose name is a plural noun or ends with a plural noun: the Everglades’ scenery, Beverly Hills’ weather; the Cellars’ wine list, General Mills’ cereals.

• Most writers and editors make an exception for biblical and classical proper names ending in s. Traditionally, only an apostrophe is added to such names: Moses’ law, Xerxes’ army. However, the influential Chicago Manual of Style recently ruled against this odd policy and started recommending Moses’s, Xerxes’s, etc.

For apostrophes with possessive proper nouns, remember these three guidelines: If the noun is singular, add ’s (Kansas’s). If the noun is plural but does not end in s, add ’s (the Magi’s gifts). If the noun is plural and ends in s, add just an apostrophe (the Beatles’ greatest hits).

Except for writers who abide by Associated Press guidelines, apostrophe rules for possessive proper nouns are virtually identical to those for possessive common nouns.

Pop Quiz
Correct any wayward sentences.

1. John Quincy Adams was John Adam’s son.
2. Both Adams’ achievements were notable.
3. When in New York, she always enjoyed the Four Season’s food.
4. Al Johnson brought the Johnson’s favorite dessert.
5. Carlos Valdez says the Valdez’s car is in the shop.

Pop Quiz Answers

1. John Quincy Adams was John Adams’s son. (some would write Adams’)
2. Both Adamses’ achievements were notable.
3. When in New York, she always enjoyed the Four Seasons’ food.
4. Al Johnson brought the Johnsons’ favorite dessert.
5. Carlos Valdez says the Valdezes’ car is in the shop.

Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at 4:56 pm

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Thank you so much for this! One thing that drives me crazy is to hear a pastor or speaker talking about something belonging to Jesus and saying “Jesus’s.” I’ve also seen a lot of books and documents lately that write the possessive of James as James’s. It just goes against my grain.

Both Jesus’s and James’s still mostly are considered verboten when the reference is to biblical names. Jesus and James are both common names these days (Jesus, especially in the Hispanic community), and would require ‘s. The Chicago Manual of Style changed its apostrophe-only policy in the last few years, a bold move that we welcome.

When we say Moses’ law, we pronounce Moses’ with three syllables. It makes sense that we could spell it Moses’ or Moses’s. When we say Xerxes’ army, we pronounce Xerxes’ with two syllables (at least I would). It makes no sense to spell it Xerxes’s (which we would be inclined to pronounce as three syllables).

Does the way in which we are inclined to pronounce the word help determine how we spell it? It makes sense to me that it would.

There are so many exceptions and qualifications about possessive apostrophes—plus or minus s—in various editors’ policies, and countless, seemingly irrational, exceptions. In these articles, we have tried to identify the rules that are closest to universal, and left out some areas that more advanced readers may wish we’d cover. In the eleventh edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation we provide a few alternatives for dealing with the tricky area of possessives of nouns ending in s, including a “write the word as we would speak it” option. But this method, too, has exceptions and can let you down, especially since not everyone would necessarily pronounce the same written word in the same way.

Has the rule about showing the possessive of names ending in S
changed in the last 60+ years? I am an old timer in my 80’s, but I was at the top of my English class when I was in school.

Am I deluded? Is my memory faulty? Wasn’t I taught that it was
Mrs. Jones’ dog and the Reynolds’ cat? Or have I been doing it
wrong all these years?

My life was spent first as a newspaper writer and later as an English teacher. I even authored a published book. Today I got
a question on the quiz WRONG. My day is ruined! Please tell me the rules have changed.

Please don’t despair even though we haven’t been able to save your ruined day. Indeed the “rules,” which are really customs and conventions in this case, have changed over the years. As we point out in the blog “Apostrophes and Proper Nouns,” there are conflicting policies for writing possessive proper nouns that end in s. You may write either Mrs. Jones’ dog or Mrs. Jones’s dog (our recommendation); just be consistent.

Query regarding “Veterans Day.” On the government website, this is how it’s (not) punctuated. Shouldn’t it instead be “Veterans’ Day?” (And as a side query, is that question mark in the right place? I lived for several years in the UK and it’s sometimes difficult to keep straight.)

The Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs explains, “Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an “s” at the end of “veterans” because it is not a day that “belongs” to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.” Therefore, since Veterans is not possessive, an apostrophe is not necessary.

In American English usage, periods and commas always go inside quotation marks. However, the placement of question marks with quotation marks follow logic. Since the quotation marks surround a term inside the sentence, the question mark should be outside the quotation marks:

I work for a school district which has students with varied ethnic backgrounds. I have encountered several students with apostrophes in the middle of their name, but I also have one with an apostrophe at the end of the first name, e.g., Kateroy’. I write reports which provide information about the students. In the report I must give information about “Kateroy’s” grades, attendance, scores, etc. This would make “grades of” very awkward. What is the correct possessive spelling of an individual who spells their name like this?

We know of no rule covering this situation. Where possible, we recommend a rewrite to avoid the possessive case: The class work of Jalina Le’, for instance. If this cannot be avoided, common sense suggests that you put a space between the two apostrophes: Jalina Le’ ‘s class work.

We assume you are asking about the plural possessive form of the last name Willians. Our post Apostrophes with Names Ending in s, ch, or z says, “To show plural possession of a name ending in s, ch, or z, form the plural first; then immediately use the apostrophe.” Therefore, Willianses’ is correct.

Could you settle a debate between my husband and I? We have a neighbor with a metal sign over their back yard reading “Wilson’s”. Their last name is Wilson. The debate is whether or not it is proper grammar to have the apostrophe Included. Please settle this for us.

The apostrophe is almost certainly incorrect. The sign with ‘s implies that there is one person named Wilson who is in possession of something. Wilsons’ would imply plural possession, such as “the Wilsons’ yard” or “the Wilsons’ house.” Wilsons with no apostrophe would imply the Wilson family lives here. Please see our post Apostrophes with Names.

Thank you! I wish we could get the word out to those that make the signs. Most of the signs just say “The Wilsons” with nothing like “house” after the name. People need to tell the sign makers to not use apostrophes.
The Wilsons
The Joneses (Looks odd, but correct)
The Foxes
The Clarks
The Youngs

Thank you. It makes me a bit crazy – and then frustrated that my auto-correct on my iPad and PC always inserts an apostrophe when I am trying to make a proper name plural. For example: The Cartwrights will attend. I just had to correct my auto-correct as it assumed – wrongly – that an apostrophe was called for. What to do, what to do?

Ordering a yard sign for a family member whose last name is Smith. I propose that the sign should read: “The Smiths”, but I feel that others believe that the correct way to display it would instead be: “The Smith’s”. Which is correct?

Kushtia Government Girls High School is a Girls’ high school. But what should be its correct name by using apostrophe:
1. `Kushtia Government Girls High School’ or
2. Kushtia Government Girls’ High School ?

The information is helpful, but your final example of the Beatles is poorly selected. The reason for this being “the Beatles,” while Beatles is written as plural, does not refer to multiple Beatles in this case. Instead, it refers to the singular entity, the one band, the Beatles. Therefore, “the Beatles’s greatest hits” should be written in the afformentioned way. A better example would be “Dave Grohl’s bands’ greatest hits.”

We see your point. The principle remains the same though, since Beatles serves as both a singular and plural term (see Apostrophes rules 1c and 2d). We can look at it from another angle. Take the Rolling Stones, for example. Would we say “The Rolling Stones are my favorite band,” or “The Rolling Stones is my favorite band.” Almost everyone would choose the former. The same principle applies to the Beatles.

I am planning to make a cutting board for my friend and would like to do it properly. I intend to use her first name as Kerri and the word kitchen showing it is her kitchen; however, she has children and I would like it to be personal. Would I use Kerri’s for singular or do it for the household and put Kerris’ kitchen?

Writing “Kerri’s Kitchen” is fine for a personal gift. If you wish to include the children, you could use the plural possessive of the last name (assuming Kerri and children all share the same last name). Example:
“The Hansons’ Kitchen.” See our Rules for Apostrophes.

Does it matter if the proper noun is part of a title such as “John Williams’ Black History Program”? Some people are leaving the apostrophe off. Which is correct when the name attached is to honor the person, not that the person created it the object.

Yes, there is a difference. If John Williams had created the program, the possessive form with the apostrophe would be fine. Since the program honors him, John Williams could be used as an adjective modifying the word program rather than a possessive noun. Please see our post Apostrophes and False Possessives for more information.

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